Treatment of Postoperative Delirium With Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation

Treatment of Postoperative Delirium With Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation: an Exploratory Study

To determine whether continuous theta burst stimulation can cure postoperative delirium in senior patients.

Postoperative delirium(POD), a syndrome characterized by an acute change in attention, awareness and cognition, is one of the most common postoperative complications among elderly patients. Impaired neuronal network connectivity is likely one of the several neurobiological processes that contribute to POD pathogenesis. Recently, continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) was demonstrated to improve cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment.Recent research suggests that cTBS has positive effect on improving the connectivity and reorganization of the brain network. Therefore, we plan to conduct an exploratory study in participants undergoing elective surgeries to determine whether cTBS can cure POD in this senior patient population.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged between 60 to 80 years;
• Having delirium after elective surgery;
• Being able to complete cognitive assessment and confusion assessment methods (CAM);
• Willing to participate before surgery and being competent to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having brain tumor, stroke, or mental disorders (e.g., depression or dementia);
• Having contraindications of cTBS (e.g., head trauma, history of epilepsy or metal implants in the head or heart);
• Participating in other clinical studies.